The Role of the Sphincter of Oddi in the Etiology of Peptic Ulcer

Abstract

In a previous report,¹the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of the sphincter of Oddi are reviewed in relation to its possible role in the etiology of peptic ulcer. The strategic location of the sphincter is stressed and its function in the control of the flow of important acid-neutralizing juices, pancreatic and biliary, into the duodenum is emphasized. It was found to be sensitive to a wide variety of chemical, pharmacological, and nervous stimuli, most of which tended to induce a state of spasm or hypertonia, which could be relaxed only by very few agents. While the pitfalls of making deductions from animal experiments and applying them to the analysis of clinical peptic ulcer in man are realized it was nevertheless considered indicated to explore the effects of sectioning the sphincter of Oddi in the experimental animal subjected postoperatively to a potent ulcer-inducing stimulus. TECHNIQUE Adult cats each weighing about